Improvement in firemen s ladders



s sheetssheet 1.

I No.177,097.

ATTEIHNEY.

3 Sheets-Sheet.

I.. H. CORBIN. FIREMENS LADDER, No.177,097. Q Patented May 9,1876.

Nrrnn STATES ISAIAH'H. CORBIN, OF EATON RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIREMENS LADDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 177,097, dated May 9,1876; application filed November 19, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAIAH H. CORBIN, of Eaton Rapids, in the county of Eaton and State of Michigan, have invented certain Improvements in Firemens or Fire-Escape Ladders, of which the followingis aspecication:

The object of this invention is to provide an efficient means for rescuing persons from burning buildings, and also to provide at the same time a simple selfadjusting ladder, which can be used by the firemen as a point from which to direct strealns of water from hose-pipes. To this end this invention consists in a ladder turning upon journals or trunnions, in a suitable frame mounted upon a wheeled truck, which 'frame is bolted to or otherwise firmly secured to said truck. But the said ladder may be mounted upon a stationary frame, if desired, as will be hereinafter more fully stated in detail.

The ladder has a preponderance at its lower end, so as to cause it to assume automatically a vertical position, when such position is desired for it, and at suitable points aboveits axes or trunnions it is provided with adjustable platforms, to be more fully hereinafter described. Said platforms are for the use at the same time of both firemen and persons escaping from a burning building.

In the drawing forming part of this specification, Figure lis a perspective view of the whole apparatus, showing the ladder in a vertical position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing the ladder in a horizontal position, or that position best suited for transporting and'housing the apparatus. Figs. 3 and 4 show a modification of the ladder, a folding joint and supplementary ladder being introduced at a suitable point above the trunnions b upon which the ladder turns.

In the drawing, A is the main frame of the truck, bolted and tied together in any suitable manner. B B are the main supports of the ladder, braced by struts C and D. 'Ihe struts G G are made use of for forming a ladder or stairway by placing between them at suitable intervals the steps E. F is the main ladder, of any desired height, and made of any suitable material. This ladder is secured to 'the supports B B by means of a shaft, bolt, or pin, G, of sufficient strength to bear the weight of the ladder itself and the additional weights which the ladder may be required to sustain. The ladder F may either turn upon the shaft Gr, orthe shaft (Jr'may turn in the supports B B like trunnions. The part of the ladder below the shaft G, While, of course, much shorter than the part above said shaft, is given a suitable preponderance, in order to elevate the ladder by virtue of the superior gravity due to said preponderance. This preponderance may be secured in any suitable well-known man ner, but the most convenient method will be to either box out or core out the lower end of the ladder, and to run therein melted lead, or to X otherwise secure a mass'of lead thereto. When the ladder is elevated to the vertical position, it is there securely held by the pin or pins H H, passed through the supports B 4B, from either one side or both sides, into When it is dethe side pieces of the ladder. sired 'to depress the ladder, it is drawn down by means of the cords K attached to it, l

near its tcp. L L are platforms, any number of which may be used, adjustably secured l by pins to the side' pieces of the ladder. These platforms have hinged foot boards M M, through which persons may ascend and descend the ladder, or upon which a greater number of persons may be accommodated in an emergency. These platforms may also be surrounded by suitable railings. By adjusting these platforms to the height of the stories of a burning building and driving the truck as close as possible up to the windows, ready ingress to and egress from desired points can be obtained. If the platforms cannot be brought against the side of a burning house, ready means of connecting the platforms with the windows or-roofs will suggest themselves to the firemen. The ladder, of course, need not be made in one length, but may be made extensible by any method in use. It may also be mounted upon a stationary frame at any point desired', near a factory or other building, ready to be elevated and operated, in the manner above described, upon an alarm of lire being given. It is evident that the platform herein described lnay be used with any ordinary fire-ladder. The base of the frame and truck herein described are, ofcourse, to be made of sutflcient length and Width to avoid the danger of overturning the apparatus upon` uneven ground; but guys can be set up at any moment from any pointot' the ladder Whenever there is danger of throwing the center of gravity of' the apparatus without the base.

Having tl'ms fully described this Whole ap paratus as of my invention, I claiml. In combination With a wheeled truck, A, a h'remens or fire-escape ladder, provided with a preponderance at one end and mounted upon trunnions in a frame secured to said truck and composedof a subsidiary ladder, C

E, and membersB D, the wholearranged and` operating in the mannerl substantially as hereinbeforc described, for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination, with a tiremens or fireescape ladder, the adjustable platform or platforms L L, provided with `hinged foot-boards M, in the manner substantially as described and set forth.

I. H. OORBIN. Witnesses;

J. DEOURDEY, C. K. LATHAM. 

